Late Inning Comeback Not Enough For Toros

Franco Drives Home Four for San Jose

(Aaron Provencio)

By Brady Hochhalter / Visalia Rawhide | August 2, 2018 3:06 AM

VISALIA, CA - Los Toros De Visalia took a three run deficit into the ninth and brought the tying run to the plate. But tonight, Visalia did not have enough magic left in their bats to complete the comeback.

The ninth inning rally began when Dominic Miroglio was hit by a pitch with one out. After a hard fought at bat, Marcus Wilson doubled off the left field wall moving Miroglio to third. With two runners in scoring position, Pavin Smith scored Miroglio with an RBI groundout to second.

Los Toros had the tying run at the plate represented by team home run leader Ramon Hernandez, but Giants closer Frank Rubio struck out Hernandez swinging to seal the 7-5 San Jose win.

Wander Franco had a big night at the plate for San Jose (48-62/14-26). He finished with two hits while grabbing four RBI's in two game changing at bats.

In the fifth, he stepped to the plate with two outs and the bases loaded and dumped a soft single into left field, plating two runs. Then in the eighth he came up in the same situation and once again pulled through in the clutch, lining a base hit into right to score two more runs. At the time, the single gave the Giants a 7-4 lead; Franco's knock ended up being the difference in the game.

Visalia starter Matt Peacock held San Jose to three runs, five hits, while surrendering three walks and collecting four strikeouts through four and two thirds innings. Peacock (L, 3-3) was forced to exit the game in the fifth with two outs due to an injury after giving up Franco's first bases-loaded single.

The Giants added on against the Visalia bullpen, scoring four runs over the final 4.1 innings to put the game out of reach.

Los Toros got their offense going in the middle innings. San Jose starter Carlos Sano turned in five strong while only giving up one run on four hits. He walked one and struck out four Visalia hitters. The lone Toros run against him was a solo blast by Renae Martinez in the fourth.

Luis Alejandro Basabe doubled home a pair against Franklin s Gurp in the sixth to bring Visalia (53-57/16-24) within two runs. Ramon Hernandez blooped a ground-rule double into right in the seventh to close the gap to a 5-4 Giants lead.

Rubio (SV, 7) allowed the solitary run in the ninth and shut the door for his third save against Visalia this year.

Miroglio led the Visalia offense with a pair of hits while scoring two runs and reached base four times. Basabe tallied two RBIs with his third double of the series and Martinez crushed his third homer of the season.

Jake Winston and Robby Sexton were both charged with a pair of runs in their outings.

The loss sets up the rubber match of the series tomorrow. Los Toros will start RHP Jeff Bain (0-1, 7.20) against San Jose LHP Mac Marshall (0-2, 3.69). First pitch is at 7 PM and tickets are still available on rawhidebaseball.com.

The Visalia Rawhide are a professional baseball team in the Class A Advanced California League and are the only professional sports team in Tulare and Kings counties. The team has been an affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks since 2007 and is entering their 72nd year of play in 2018. The Rawhide renovated their home at Recreation Ballpark in 2009 and have since become the largest gathering of individuals in Tulare County, having set an attendance record for the seventh time in the past eight seasons in 2017. In 2018, the Rawhide look to continue their reputation for hosting competitive baseball while providing affordable family entertainment. To be a part of the 2018 Visalia Rawhide season, please contact the Visalia Rawhide Ticket Office at 559.732.4433, visit us online at rawhidebaseball.com, or follow us on Facebook (TheRawhide), Instagram (@VisaliaRawhide), and Twitter (@VisaliaRawhide).
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.